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The Beheaded 1000

Original title: Qian ren zhan
  • 19911991
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
121
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Joey Wang in Qian ren zhan (1991)
  • Action
An executioner beheads his 1000th criminal, and unleashes a demon army headed by an evil witch called the Blood Lotus.An executioner beheads his 1000th criminal, and unleashes a demon army headed by an evil witch called the Blood Lotus.An executioner beheads his 1000th criminal, and unleashes a demon army headed by an evil witch called the Blood Lotus.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
121
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Shan-Hsi Ting
  • Writer
    • Shan-Hsi Ting
  • Stars
    • Joey Wang
    • Jimmy Wang Yu
    • Monica Chan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Shan-Hsi Ting
  • Writer
    • Shan-Hsi Ting
  • Stars
    • Joey Wang
    • Jimmy Wang Yu
    • Monica Chan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Siu-Ho Chin and Joey Wang in Qian ren zhan (1991)
    Joey Wang in Qian ren zhan (1991)
    Joey Wang in Qian ren zhan (1991)
    Joey Wang in Qian ren zhan (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joey Wang
    Joey Wang
    • Blood Lotusas Blood Lotus
    Jimmy Wang Yu
    Jimmy Wang Yu
    • Executioner Ren De Tieas Executioner Ren De Tie
    Monica Chan
    Monica Chan
    Siu-Ho Chin
    Siu-Ho Chin
    Pao-Shan Chang
    Pao-Shan Chang
    Yu-Cheng Chen
      Chia-Cheng Chu
      Kun-Yang Chu
      Xiao-Lao Gian
      Yu-Lung Hsiao
      Yu-Lung Hsiao
      Chang-Wen Hsieh
      Hai-Hsing Li
      Hai-Hsing Li
      Chie-Wen Lin
        Hai-Yung Shen
        Hai-Yung Shen
        Shao-Wei Sun
        Ya-Tung Sun
        San Tai
        Wen-Liang Tang
        • Director
          • Shan-Hsi Ting
        • Writer
          • Shan-Hsi Ting
        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
        • All cast & crew

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        Storyline

        Edit

        User reviews4

        Review
        Top review
        7/10
        Absolute Madness, But Highly Entertaining!!
        This 1991 oddity from director Ting Shan Si is a film I think, doesn't get the love it deserves. One thing is for sure, The Beheaded 1000 certainly isn't boring! With great sets, some nice cinematography, hundreds of extras and some great wire-fu moments, such as Joey Wong's escape from the police force in the first half of the film, there is a lot to like here. A lengthy blend of action, horror, fantasy and comedy, you can't help but appreciate the work involved in this early 90's flick...

        This was to be director Ting's last film. Having worked in the film industry from the late 60's, including directing classics such as Furious Slaughter, Knights Errand and A Queens Ransom with Jimmy Wang Yu, Ting also gave us the wonderful Whiplash with Cheng Pei Pei, and Hong Kong Supermen starring Bruce Liang, and many more. With his swan song, Ting keeps a lot of that old-style, classic kung-fu feel which is what I think sets The Beheaded 1000 apart from all other New-Wave Hong Kong films of the early-nineties such as New Dragon Gate Inn, Blade Of Fury, and The Swordsman Trilogy for example. At times it feels like a Yuen Woo Ping movie from that period, with its low angles for action, fantasy elements, and spats of comedy throughout which sometimes clashes with the old-school style Ting delivers!

        Also produced by its star, legend Jimmy Wang Yu plays the role of a royal executioner, famed for beheading almost 1000 convicts with a solid-gold blade. As he nears his final accomplished number, with plans of retiring and having trained the awesome Chin Siu Ho to be his successor, all hell breaks lose with a demon and the vengeful vixen, Blood Lotus, played by Joey Wong. The Beheaded 1000 is a great role for Jimmy Wang Yu. Having been in the business by this stage for almost 30 years, you would expect him to be a little more graceful in his moves, but not at all. That's not to say he disappoints! Wang Yu still fights like Wang Yu, whether its with a sword, flying through the air, or pulling some shapes. He looks amazing as the executioner, but does provide some unintentional laughs along the way. And being put next to an incredible mover like Chin Siu Ho, doesn't help...

        The wonderful Wu Ma pops up as the Guardian Of Hell who gets a bit of a fight scene with his Chinese Ghost Story co-star, Joey Wong, who I think was miscast. She looks bored in her fight scenes and hardly acts, but does so without upsetting the cart too much. Being a Taiwanese production, there's also a host of recognisable faces through-out such as Lam Kai Man from A Heroic Fight, and the great Alan Lee Hoi Hing from Ninja USA and Ninja Final Duel, with the awesome Alexander Lo Rei - the kick-ass action star who surprisingly, also happens to be the assistant director and fight choreographer of the this wild flick.

        While it could easily pass as a classic 70's kung-fu drama in its look, drama and delivery, The Beheaded 1000 features some great action moments courtesy of Lo Rei. It's definitely not as wild as some of the ninja stars own wire-enhanced films, instead, offering some very graceful wire-fu and grounded fight scenes that really work. I quite enjoyed what was on display but definitely would like to have seen much more!

        Having been made in 1991, the visual effects actually don't come across too bad at all, although by today's standards are comical. From camera blends and tricks, to animated lasers and electricity, it all makes for an entertaining ride and seemed quite ambitious at times. One battle even shows a demon coming out of a ghosts stomach; something that looks like it was a rejected puppet from the Gremlins movie. It's just another little thing that helps make The Beheaded 1000 wacky as fuh, but a lot of fun. Some of those other ingredients include ghost kids who appear from beans, giant cartoon spiders, floating skulls that shoot electric, Wu Ma growing into a giant, rocket firing wine bottles, a fire dragon, and lots of ghosts with attitude.

        The Beheaded 1000 is probably just a little too long in its 2 hour (plus) running time, but its great lighting and cinematography make sure you don't bore of it too quick in between the action and horror scenes. I really enjoyed it and appreciate the totally unique style it took compared to everything else that was coming out of Hong Kong and Taiwan at that time. The majority of Jimmy Wang Yu movies are absurd and crazy in some respect, and that's why I love them. This is one such movie, and was the legends last starring role until he came out of retirement for Donnie Yen's epic, Wu Xia (aka Dragon) in 2011...

        I wouldn't say no to a 4K restored version!

        Overall: Often hilarious, beautifully shot, and never dull, The Beheaded 1000 is one of the wildest 90's kung-fu movies out there, and well worth the watch!
        helpful•5
        0
        • Movie-Misfit
        • Jun 15, 2020

        FAQ1

        • What are the differences between the Hongkong Theatrical Version and the Taiwan Version?

        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • June 28, 1991 (Taiwan)
        • Countries of origin
          • Taiwan
          • Hong Kong
        • Languages
          • Mandarin
          • Cantonese
        • Also known as
          • The Executioner
        • Production companies
          • Blaine and Blake Ltd.
          • Blaine and Blake Ltd.
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Technical specs

        Edit
        • Runtime
          1 hour 45 minutes
        • Color
          • Color
        • Sound mix
          • Mono
        • Aspect ratio
          • 1.85 : 1

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